It’s easy to understand why cats are such a popular pet for kids: they’re soft, warm, cuddly friends who provide love and reassurance while asking little in return. Those of us who grew up with feline pals of our own can understand the special bond a kid and their cat can form, and the following picture books perfectly capture that friendship for young readers.
Cat Chat: How Cats Tell Us How They Feel by Dr. Jess French, illustrated by Penelope Dullaghan
In this illustrated guide, veterinary surgeon and zoologist Dr. Jess French helps young cat owners decode their pet’s body language to better understand what their furry friend is trying to tell them. The words are structured into simple rhymes and features playful yet easily understandable images of various cat-titudes — such as flattened ears to signify discomfort or head butts to indicate affection — making this a perfect pick for a young reader new to cat ownership.
The Cat Way by Sara Lundberg, translated by B. J. Woodstein
This Swedish import is a gorgeous and meditative tale of compromise and perspective. While a cat is typically satisfied to follow her human when they go for walks, she decides to one day take the lead. This initially frustrates and confounds her companion, until the human begins to appreciate why the cat prefers a slower, more meandering pace. There’s a magical air to this book that encourages exploration and empathy. It’s easy to see why it was a recent New York Times and New York Public Library award winner!
Floof by Heidi McKinnon
It’s hard not to be charmed simply by the cover of this book, which features the “floofiest” cat there is. However, if you think Floof has a simple, boring life, you’d be wrong! For instance, she has many hobbies, such as sleeping on top of books, sleeping in garden planters, and sleeping on top of computer keyboards. Early readers will love the simple text, and older cat lovers will spot the hilarious irony of the text and illustrations, which perfectly capture feline contrarianism.
This Little Kitty by Karen Obuhanych
A playful, jaunty day-in-the-life of five cats sharing a household, this debut by Obuhanych is perfect for little ones who dream of having a whole pack of troublesome and too-cute kitties in their house. The bright rhyming text chronicles the quintet of cats as they play, eat, nap, and maybe even make a little mischief, and pairs wonderfully with a bold art style that gives each cat their own unique personality.
Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper
This Caldecott honoree is much loved for its gentle, sad, yet ultimately heartwarming story. When a little cat is brought home, Big Cat takes the kitten under his paw, showing him the ins and outs of being a good kitty. As he does, Little Cat grows and grows, until he is even bigger than Big Cat. The two live together happily until Big Cat doesn’t return home one day. The ending is bittersweet, but leaves the reader with hope, and captures the warmth of sharing what we’ve learned from our loved ones with the next generation.
Hi, Cat! by Ezra Jack Keats
As youngster Archie strolls out to meet up with some friends, he offers a stray cat a friendly greeting — and everything goes downhill from there. Written and illustrated by the adored picture book author Ezra Jack Keats, this comedy of errors will have kids bursting with giggles at the antics of the well-meaning yet incredibly disruptive kitty. Meanwhile, Archie and the cat’s enduring affection for each other, even after they part, will warm their hearts.
I Am a Cat by Galia Bernstein
When a tubby, gray housecat named Simon arrives at a meeting of big cats, he is nearly laughed out of the room. What can a little creature like him have in common with majestic felines like lions and tigers? Bernstein’s playful story and illustrations will enchant little ones in the way they draw connections between their pet cats and wild ones, with a subtle message of looking for the things that unite us, rather than divide us.
Niblet & Ralph by Zachariah OHora
Did you know that the chances of there being two male calico cats is around 1 in nine million? With odds like that, it’s easy to see why Niblet and Ralph, two similar-looking calicos who live in the same apartment building, end up getting mistaken for each other. When the pair find themselves in a dual case of mistaken identity, they must figure out a way back to their proper homes. Silly, fun, and filled with OHora’s eye-catching illustrations, this feline adventure is an absolute treat.
I Am The Boss Of This Chair by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by Marisa Morea
Readers are introduced to Oswald Minklehoff Honey Bunny III, who is the indisputable boss of everything in his home, especially his chair. So, when kitten Pom Pom joins the household, he naturally lays down the rules — but Pom Pom can’t seem to stop breaking them by touching his stuff! A parody of feline regality, this story also offers an important lesson for little ones on how sharing can open us up to new friendships.
Pretty Kitty by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis
Happening upon a kitten on his walk home, an elderly man acknowledges the creature’s cuteness but makes it clear that he is not in the market for a cat. As the days pass, the kitten is joined by its family, until the man finds a mother cat and her nine kittens on his front porch. Part counting book, part touching tale of love after loss, this picture book manages to beautifully and unforgettably weave together education with pathos, and it will touch the heart of any cat lover.
Cats and kids go together like milk and cookies; add books into the mix, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a cozy, lifelong friendship. If you have a cat-loving kiddo of your own, any of these books would make a lovely companion to their next cuddle sesh with their feline friend.
Attention cat-lovers! If you want to learn about the history of library cats, check out our article here.
For more recommendations for mini bookworms, check out our list here.
